When do they figure out to go into the coop at night?

[sluggospud]

I have 3 six week old barred rocks. At 4 weeks, we started putting them into the coop/run during the day. They've been up the ramp plenty of times and know how to get into the coop.

Last night we decided it was time to let them stay out there full time. I put a heat lamp, and turned it on at dusk. We went back out after dark, and found them huddled together in the run underneath the coop. We moved them by hand into the coop, and shut the sliding door. They seemed very happy.

Tonight I went out at dusk and moved them again. When are they going to figure out to do this on their own?

Also, how long will they need a heat lamp. I've got a remote thermometer in the coop so I can monitor the temp from inside my house. It gets into the low 50's at night here (temperate California weather). With the heat lamp, it's in the mid 60's.

thanks.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I would shut them in for at least a few days so they get used to that as their home before letting them wander. That why they have no choice but to sleep there and it becomes their routine.

 

[AwallRooster]

we put ours out at 5 weeks in the coop at night, an let them out the next morning, lol, it was funny

to watch them because they didn't get 10 feet away from the coop for a few days , now they have been out for 2 weeks and run the whole 1/4acre run, but the we had to go out every night for the first

week and set them up on their roost pole , but by the 2week they were geting up there on there on , they will figure it out , chickens are smarter then alot of humans in this world , lol jus sayn......